OVERVIEW
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian Sea. The island is home to many cultures, languages and ethnicities. The majority of the population is from the Sinhalese ethnicity, while a large minority of Tamils have also played an influential role in the island's history. Sri Lanka is one of 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Although the country is relatively small in size, it has the highest biodiversity density in Asia. Sri Lanka has declared 24 wildlife reserves, which are home to a wide range of native species such as Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, the unique slender loris, a variety of deer, langurs, wild boars, porcupines and Indian pangolins. It is home to over 250 species of resident birds. It has declared several bird sanctuaries in the last few years and is one of the hotspots for wildlife. Willapattu National Park is among the oldest and most important protected areas in Sri Lanka. Its flora and fauna are representative of the dry lowland zone. The main topographical feature in this park is the concentration of “villus” or ‘lakes within it. Though resembling lakes, these “villus” are flat basin-like, fault depressions on the earth's surface containing purely rainwater.
Birding – Key birds that can be seen
Gray Francolin, Barred Buttonquail, Indian Peafowl, Woolly-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Spot-billed Pelican, Darter, Common Kestral, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Booted Eagle, changeable Hawk Eagle, Eurasian Thick-knee, Great Thick-knee, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Pin-tailed Snipe, Greater Painted-snipe, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Gray-bellied Cuckoo, Blue-faced Malkoha, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Indian Nightjar, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Crested Treeswift, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Coppersmith Barbet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, SL Woodshrike, White-browed Fantail, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern Black Drongo, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Grey-breasted Prinia, Jungle Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, White-rumped Shama, Rosy Starling, Brahminy Starling, Baya Weaver, Indian Silverbill.
ITINERARY
Sri Lanka Wildlife Expedition – 2023
Day 1 - Arrive in Colombo (D) |
On arrival at the Bandaranayaka International Airport (Colombo), you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality. Your tour leader from Just Nature Expeditions will welcome you at the airport and you will proceed to Colombo city.
(Approx.: travel time 40 Mins.). Check-into Jetwing Colombo 7. Dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing Colombo 7.
After breakfast, proceed to Wilpattu Check in to Forest Rock Garden Hotel, a lovely and quaint hotel located close to the Wilpattu National Park. After lunch, proceed for an afternoon game drive at Willapattu National Park. It comprises a unique complex of lakes called Villus, which are natural basins that are filled up with rainwater and are surrounded by open grassy plains set within the dense scrub jungle. A multitude of sandy paths wind around the entire park and open up into these large natural lakes. Key mammal highlights are leopard and sloth bear on this safari. Dinner and overnight stay at Forest Rock Garden.
On days 3 & 4, guests will enjoy a full-day safari in Wilpattu. The biggest draws in Wilpattu are leopards and sloth bears. Wilpattu National Park's unique feature is the existence of "Willis" - natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. This national park is located in the northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world-renowned for its leopard population. There are many vegetation types to be found in Wilpattu. 31 species of mammals have been identified within Wilpattu National Park and a rich diversity of birdlife. Dinner & overnight stay at Forest Rock Garden.
On this morning, guests will enjoy a half-day safari. After lunch, proceed to Jetwing Lighthouse hotel Galle. Dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing Lighthouse Galle.
Morning travel to Mirissa, take the boat from the fishery harbour out to sea. The waters off the coast of Mirissa are one of the best places in the world to see blue whales. After searching for the blue whales, we will take you further out to look for sperm whales,
humpbacks & dolphins. The ideal location for whale watching would be Dondra Point (Mirissa). Whale watching will be conducted in a shared boat. After the boat safari, we will visit the Galle Dutch Fort. After the day’s activities, we will enjoy a special farewell dinner at Jetwing Lighthouse. Dinner & Overnight stay at Jetwing Lighthouse Galle
Today the morning will be at leisure, after a hearty breakfast, guests will be driven back to Colombo airport for their onward connection.
Costing:
Inclusions:
Exclusions:
APPLYING FOR A VISA TO ENTER SRI LANKA
You can apply for visa via www.eta.gov.lk or ask us and we will be happy
to help.
(Approx.: travel time 40 Mins.). Check-into Jetwing Colombo 7. Dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing Colombo 7.
Day 2 - Colombo-Wilpattu (B, L & D) |
After breakfast, proceed to Wilpattu Check in to Forest Rock Garden Hotel, a lovely and quaint hotel located close to the Wilpattu National Park. After lunch, proceed for an afternoon game drive at Willapattu National Park. It comprises a unique complex of lakes called Villus, which are natural basins that are filled up with rainwater and are surrounded by open grassy plains set within the dense scrub jungle. A multitude of sandy paths wind around the entire park and open up into these large natural lakes. Key mammal highlights are leopard and sloth bear on this safari. Dinner and overnight stay at Forest Rock Garden.
Day 3 - 4 - Two Full Day Safaris at Walpattu National Park (B, L & D) |
On days 3 & 4, guests will enjoy a full-day safari in Wilpattu. The biggest draws in Wilpattu are leopards and sloth bears. Wilpattu National Park's unique feature is the existence of "Willis" - natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. This national park is located in the northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world-renowned for its leopard population. There are many vegetation types to be found in Wilpattu. 31 species of mammals have been identified within Wilpattu National Park and a rich diversity of birdlife. Dinner & overnight stay at Forest Rock Garden.
Day 5 - WILPATTU TO Jetwing Lighthouse Galle 6.5 Hrs (B, L & D) |
On this morning, guests will enjoy a half-day safari. After lunch, proceed to Jetwing Lighthouse hotel Galle. Dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing Lighthouse Galle.
Day 6 - Jetwing Lighthouse Galle (B, L & D) |
Morning travel to Mirissa, take the boat from the fishery harbour out to sea. The waters off the coast of Mirissa are one of the best places in the world to see blue whales. After searching for the blue whales, we will take you further out to look for sperm whales,
humpbacks & dolphins. The ideal location for whale watching would be Dondra Point (Mirissa). Whale watching will be conducted in a shared boat. After the boat safari, we will visit the Galle Dutch Fort. After the day’s activities, we will enjoy a special farewell dinner at Jetwing Lighthouse. Dinner & Overnight stay at Jetwing Lighthouse Galle
Day 7 - Departure Galle to Colombo Airport 2.5 Hrs (B) |
Today the morning will be at leisure, after a hearty breakfast, guests will be driven back to Colombo airport for their onward connection.
Costing:
- 8-10 Pax group per pax cost on a shared basis: USD 1850 + 5% GST
- Single Room Supplement: USD 530 + 5% GST
Inclusions:
- Accommodation as per the hotels/resorts mentioned in the itinerary
- All meals
- Expedition leader from Just Nature Expedition
- Safaris at Wilpattu National Park on a shared basis as outlined in the itinerary
- Wildlife Permits
- Whale Watching at Mirssia
- Airport pick and drop
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for the group throughout the trip
- Special farewell dinner at Lighthouse Galle
Exclusions:
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
- Airfare
- All expenses of personal nature
- Visa cost
- Liquor/beverages
- Travel Insurance
- Gratuity
Payment Policy
| On Booking Date ** | 25% |
| Within 90 to 60 Days of the Expedition | 75% |
| Before 60 Days of the Expedition | 100% |
Cancellation Policy (Retention)
| Before 90 Days of Expedition | 25% |
| Within 90-60 Days | 50% |
| Less than 60 Days | 100% |
Travel Information
- Money – Sri Lanka is a country where USD is commonly accepted everywhere. This includes hotels, shops, restaurants, bars and most places of interest while on a holiday. Credit card facilities will also be available at all hotels to pay for extras/incidentals.
- Gratuity – We will collect a common kitty for the gratuity of all staff involved the making your trip special. The tour leader will collect this at the start of the trip so he/she can distribute it during the trip. We recommend USD 100 per person as a gratuity but leave it to the guests' discretion to decide.
- Whale watching – When whale watching, the sea can be quite rough. Guests who have motion sickness should take precautionary medicines as prescribed by their physician.
- Weather – The month of January is Sri Lanka’s dry season and you can expect the weather to be warm and humid. Average daily temperatures can range from 25 degree Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius. Guests can expect a good amount of sunshine with negligible chances of rain.
APPLYING FOR A VISA TO ENTER SRI LANKA
You can apply for visa via www.eta.gov.lk or ask us and we will be happy
to help.
Expedition leaders:
Erwin D’rose
Erwin’s dedication, passion and commitment to all things wild make him one of the better naturalists in Satpura. His knack for sightings especially for big cats makes him an absolute asset to have when on safari. Before joining us at Reni Pani 8 years ago, Erwin spent 5 Years in Kanha National Park studying and understanding tiger behaviour. His passion for wildlife started early in life as he grew up in Jabalpur which is the entry point to many famous national parks like Kanha and Bandhavgarh. It was his childhood dream to be a naturalist and expedition guide and now he has achieved what he dreamed about as a kid. Erwin spent considerable time in the wilderness ever since he was young. This brought him close to photography as well. His passion for photography enabled him to work with various filming teams in Kanha to make documentaries. This also helped him understand the flora and fauna of Central India better.
Erwin D’rose
Erwin’s dedication, passion and commitment to all things wild make him one of the better naturalists in Satpura. His knack for sightings especially for big cats makes him an absolute asset to have when on safari. Before joining us at Reni Pani 8 years ago, Erwin spent 5 Years in Kanha National Park studying and understanding tiger behaviour. His passion for wildlife started early in life as he grew up in Jabalpur which is the entry point to many famous national parks like Kanha and Bandhavgarh. It was his childhood dream to be a naturalist and expedition guide and now he has achieved what he dreamed about as a kid. Erwin spent considerable time in the wilderness ever since he was young. This brought him close to photography as well. His passion for photography enabled him to work with various filming teams in Kanha to make documentaries. This also helped him understand the flora and fauna of Central India better.
DEPARTURE DATES
